Category: Weekly Prompts

My Lost Sock, A Christmas Story

The midweek word prompt on Weekly Prompts is Giving Thanks.  This poem here is an older one of mine, but I think the piece is appropriate for the prompt. Please go over and visit the “Weekly Prompts” site by clicking >> Here,

My Lost Sock, A Christmas Story

 

I’m a hand knitted woollen sock

Here’s my story from year dot

In the beginning

I started as a piece of spinning

The wool off a sheep’s back

An odd colour of brownie-black

Being spun into dark twines

On a wheel from olden times

Craftily hand knitted

Lovingly, soon to be gifted

There were two of us

We were like knitted twins

Righty and Lefty

And of course I’m Righty

Our gorgeous red-haired spinner and knitter

Had dutifully finished

Cheerfully folded and wrapped

In colourful paper and flower strap

A fabulous Christmas present

For her husband’s, aged parent

Soon it was Christmas day

Everyone’s jolly, merry and gay

Drinking red wine, local Cabernet

Eating fish, caught in a nearby bay

And presents opening time began

Families smiled and sang

We’re sitting on Pop’s lap

Gently and slowly, being unwrapped

Pop proudly exclaims and holds us up

“Look here, see what I’ve got”

Suddenly Pop throws Lefty into the corner

And I’m left dangling like “Little Jack Horner”

There’s much laughter and jokes

Kids come over and give me a friendly poke

Poor discarded Lefty, on the floor with no folks

While I’m up here being kindly stroked

There’s more giggles, they’re all staring at me

Pop’s grinning from ear to ear

Wriggling in his wheelchair to loud cheers

Oh, my discovery, Pop’s left leg’s missing below his knee

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

It Was Time To Leave

This weekend the photo challenge on Weekly Prompts is: Clock the Time. I’ve chosen an older poem, so I only have to copy and paste. Be sure to visit the fabulous Weekly Prompts site by clicking >>HERE

It Was Time To Leave

 

It’s time to tidy up my mess

Clean up the room and get dressed

It’s time to pack my suitcase

Fill the travel bag and vacate this place

It’s time to put on my famous rocker shoes

And walk away from this dream so true

It’s time to say heartfelt goodbyes

To these wonderful Philadelphia guys

It’s time for final hugs and kisses

Sad farewells and best wishes

It’s time for my usual emotional tears

Separate myself from these every day cheers

It’s time to flyaway from a land of Dragons and fairies

Leave this magical world of faraway families

It’s time to say a million thank you’s

For making my stay a Really Real great do

It’s time for me to travel back home

With glorious memories of this mystical thunder dome

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

Odd Photos

This weekend’s Photo Challenge on Weekly Prompts is, Not The Norm! And over the last few weeks, I’ve taken some rather odd photos, that are “Not The Norm” , of every day life here in Geelong…. Click >>Here, to visit ‘The Weekly Prompts’ fabulous site

A hail-storm at the Box Office Cafe yesterday, and Chris and his dog Lily, looking worried

At the Box Office Cafe again, the two photos are of the framed pictures hanging up in the toilets. The next photo is of some wall art, in the back patio area….All unusual, to say the least

Geelong’s CBD, has numerous works of street art, down the back lane-ways

Another piece of street. And then I was visiting the Valhalla Bar (Yes the same place I go to for one my poetry recital nights) for refreshments, and I took this photo…. apparently his name is Westie, and he has a hole in the front of the bucket to have a drink… very odd….

On the way home I needed a bite to eat, and wow ! a Philadelphia Cheesesteak in the main street of Geelong…. Now I’m home, trying on my new shirt from Kuala Lumpur, a gift handed to me Thursday, by my dear pen-friend from Malaysia, a beautiful shirt, certainly “Not The Norm”, to be chatting to her, cheek to cheek, and truly a lovely day, we spent together ………..

Oddly, I’ve not yet posted this Leonard Cohen, song and video clip…. enjoy……

 

Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

 

Flame and Sorrow

Here is my article, in response to, this weekend’s,  Weekly Prompts Challenge, to the Colour Challenge FLAME! …. I’ve selected a song by Icelandic band ‘Solstafir’ for the topic “Flame”…. After you’ve watched the video, you will understand why I chose Solstafir’s song Lagnaetti, which translates to ‘Low Night’….. Below I’ve attached the translated lyrics, and the fascinating music/video of ‘Solsafir’s’, Lagnaetti… I do hope the readers enjoy this interesting piece, and the finale Flame

The English translation to the lyrics of “Lagnaetti” a song by Solstafir
Versions:
Where are you now? I can’t find you here.
I sit by your side; there’s no heat.
But everything must pass on, death’s last custom.
I hurt and betrayed you in my ugly game.
The price is so high with the heart at a doorway.
The bitter feeling of hate, myself always tormented.
In the cruel clutches of death, the sorrow hewed at the string.
Already miss you and call you my love.
I try to stand up straight, but I know I’ll end alone.
Because the black hatred in the heart is our Lord,
The supply of life has fallen into a coma.
Given up completely, the struggle died, now I crawl on my knees.
On a knife’s blade dancing wobbly and sore.
Ivor Steven (c)  Nov 2019

 

 

My Book Covers

 This weekend the Photo Challenge, on Weekly Prompts is, Cover. Today I’m experimenting and trying something completely different for me. I will be attempting to produce a “Video Book Cover”…… For my readers that might not know, the third anniversary of Leonard Cohen’s passing, is on the 7th of November, and appropriately, I’m posting this article as a tribute to Leonard Cohen…. The Book Cover photos, are of the Leonard Cohen books I have in my collection here in my writers haven…..The video is short piece that I’ve created, that goes for 28 seconds, and to play the video click on the arrow in the bottom left of the frame. .. . …however despite the small duration, I am ecstatic with the final outcome of my Book –Cover

 

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Below, I’m attaching a very recent music/video of Leonard Cohen’s brilliant poem, “Happens to The Heart”, his lyrics are superb and the visual effect of the video is definitely stunning……

 

Ivor Steven (c)  October 2019

 

Blue Plastic Tripe

The midweek word prompt on the site Weekly Prompts is Character. And yes I think “It’s Time”, us human’s showed some >> Character….…

Blue Plastic Tripe

 

The sun’s filtered warmth

Opens my notebook

And a red wine

Enhances the imagination nook

This Cafe’s quietly humming

Enticing my visions into reality

As my heart beats out a rhyme

Listening to melodic rhythms

And I sing to myself, a worldly question

Have we the character, to repair our transgressions

 

A forest symphony’s chiming, ‘All my leaves are brown’

Touching a sensitive soul, one more time

Forcing my dancing feet, down to the sea line

Where I hear mother earth, singing the blues

And sad mermaids, are playing harps in tune

To the ancient whales, deep moaning sounds

” The ocean now covers me, in plastic tripe”

Are we hearing the lullaby, of his final night

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  October 2019